Investigating the spatial tolerance of the B cell receptor using nanopatterned antigens

Katelyn Spillane (primary)
King's College London
Hannah Gould (secondary)
Randall Division for Cell and Molecular Biophysics
King's College London


B cells produce antibodies and providing long-term immunity against antigens that cause disease. B cells become activated following specific interactions with antigens that are displayed on the surfaces of other immune cells. Antigens are typically organized in repetitive spatial patterns at the nanoscale, but we lack an understanding of how these spatial arrangements influence B cell activation. Here, we will use DNA origami to assemble antigens into precise nanoscale patterns to investigate the spatial tolerance of the B cell receptor, leading to a better understanding of how physical cues influence the onset of an immune response.


A. N. Mitropoulou, H. Bowen, T. S. Dodev, A. M. Davies, H. J. Bax, R. L. Beavil, A. J. Beavil, H. J. Gould, L. K. James, and B. J. Sutton
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 115, E8707-E8716 (2018).

Mechanics of antigen extraction in the B cell synapse
Katelyn M. Spillane and Pavel Tolar
Molecular Immunology, 101, 319-328 (2018).

Katelyn M. Spillane and Pavel Tolar
The Journal of Cell Biology, 216, 217-230 (2017).

Germinal center B cells recognize antigen through a specialized immune synapse architecture
Carla R. Nowosad, Katelyn M. Spillane, and Pavel Tolar
Nature Immunology, 17, 870-877 (2016).

Pavel Tolar and Katelyn M. Spillane
Advances in Immunology, 123, 69-100 (2014).

Genes, development and STEM* approaches to biology
Area of Biology
Cell BiologyImmunology
Techniques & Approaches
BiophysicsMicroscopy / ElectrophysiologyMolecular Biology